The Summer Internship Roller Coaster

Zoom with Richard Gere and other participants
By Sonam Rikha ’24 I never expected the exhilarating highs and crushing lows of last summer’s internship search. Who knew that looking for a summer internship could feel like a never ending roller coaster of obstacles and surprises. During the spring semester, students are often left scrambling to find an internship or some other opportunity to fill up the long summer day...
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Q&A with a Geology Major

Dede in puffer jacket, kissing a stuffed bison, with snowy mountains in background
By Siena Swift ’23 This week I interviewed Bert & Rocky’s-loving Dede Chapline ‘23, who is one half of the iconic snake mom, OKC superstars duo with last week’s interviewee Lilly Haave (see “Q&A with a Transfer Student” for further explanation). This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.  Q: Can you please introduce yourself? A: My name i...
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Return to Pomona?

Leslie giving peace sign in front of washing machine
By Leslie Paz ’24 Crossing through Pomona’s  gates as a sophomore was weird to say the least. After a whole year online, my long awaited arrival to campus (and traditional entry through Pomona’s gates) was surreal and like a dream. My first few days were filled with excitement and just a little hint of confusion. To set the scene, I started the day by walking in circles a...
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What Is Research Anyway? (Don’t worry, I had no idea either)

group of 9 students smiling for selfie shot outside
By Youssef El Mosalami ‘24 After a grueling online semester full of  multiple spontaneous FaceTime calls, outings in NYC with other Pomona students who lived in the area, and turning off my camera during class to nom down on some lunch (don’t tell my professors), I definitely missed being able to give friends hugs when I saw them or just being in the physical presence of oth...
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Life as a Virtual Admissions Summer Fellow

screen grab of zoom with all fellows
By Chris Meng ’23  Dear Christopher,  It is with great pleasure that we invite you to join the Office of Admissions at Pomona College as a Virtual Summer Fellow.  All the way back in May, I accepted an offer to work with admissions this summer. I feel incredibly fortunate that I was able to find a paid position that I was excited about pursuing. I literally didn’t know...
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Help! I’m 20 Years Old And I’ve Never Had An Internship

Stevie's laptop on her work space
By Stevie Matheny ‘22   My Jobs Up Until This Point Steam the milk. Cue the shots. Pump the syrup. Catch the shots. Pour the milk. Serve the coffee. Repeat. This has been my work experience for the past three years, and, honestly, I’ve LOVED it. It’s clear-cut, it’s relational, and it’s a service to others. But at the end of the day, my desire...
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My Experience Backpacking in Southeast Asia

Toran with group of backtivists
By Toran Langford '21 This past summer, I participated in Operation Groundswell. I was a “backpacktivist” in Thailand. Then, I explored Cambodia on my own. This coined term “backpacktivist” means to act as a guest in a place others call home. We were supposed to adhere to local traditions and customs, which allows us to understand the value of cultures different from our own...
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Missing Home Away from Home

Carlos Furukawa
By Hayeon Lee '23 As coronavirus has moved us all back home, here are some updates from current Pomona first-year students and how they have been coping during these unprecedented times! Alyssa Zhang ‘23 Alyssa Zhang is a rising sophomore at Pomona College. She is from Buffalo Grove, (Chicago-area), IL and is currently undecided about her major. Alyssa is interested in...
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Do You Know What You’re Doing This Summer?

At the Brookline Auto Museum
By Daphne Chapline '22 *Note: This was written before the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic upset many students' summer plans. “Got any big plans for the summer?” is a question often asked of college students toward the end of the year. Last year, when I was asked, I would answer, “I’m interning at a pharmaceutical company in Boston—I’m very excited.” This was all true, but w...
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Being in Bishtek

Dakota with a raptor
By Dakota Crookston, ‘21 Moving beyond mosaic tabletops and colorful couches, the lot of us had taken our seats at a table in the back. The booth was grand, tucked behind thick drapes and lavishly upholstered. Our rowdy bunch eyed each other apprehensively. I knew that this moment would come eventually, but I thought it would happen after my own decision. I had not expect...
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